Blade Runner (1982)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1981
Running Times: 111m 46s (UK video - Director's Cut)/112m 2s (UK video, 1986)/116m 29s (UK video - Director's Cut)/117m 4s (UK theatrical)
Length:
Format: 35mm/Panavision (anamorphic)
Colour Format: Technicolor
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Stereo

DIRECTION

Directed by: Ridley Scott

PRODUCTION
Copyright: © MCMLXXXII [1982] Blade Runner Partnership
Director's Cut Copyright: © 1991 The Blade Runner Partnership
Production Company: The Ladd Company in association with Sir Run Run Shaw  Jerry Perenchio and Bud Yorkin present  A Michael Deeley-Ridley Scott production
Executive Producers: Brian Kelly, Hampton Fancher
Produced by: Michael Deeley
Associate Producer: Ivor Powell
Executive in Charge of Production: C.O. Erickson
Production Executive: Katherine Haber
Unit Production Manager: John W. Rogers
Production Co-ordinator: Vickie Alper

SCRIPT
Screenplay by: Hampton Fancher and David Peoples; Roland Kibbee (voiceovers - uncredited)
Based on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick

DIRECTION
First Assistant Directors: Newton Arnold, Peter Cornberg
Second Assistant Directors: Don Hauer, Morris Chapnick, Richard Schroer
D.G.A. Trainee: Victoria Rhodes
Script Supervisor: Anna Maria Quintana

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Jordan Cronenweth
Additional Photography: Steven Poster, Brian Tufano
Camera Operators: Robert Thomas, Albert Bettcher, Dick Colean
First Assistant Cameramen: Mike Genne, Steve Smith
Second Assistant Cameraman: George D. Greer
Lighting Gaffer: Dick Hart
Key Grip: Carey Griffith
Still Photographer: Stephen Vaughan
Filmed in Panavision

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Supervising Editor: Terry Rawlings
Editor: Marsha Nakashima
First Assistant Editor: Les Healey
Assistant Editor: William Zabala
Color by Technicolor

MUSIC
Music Composed, Arranged, Performed and Produced by: Vangelis
Original soundtrack album of music by Vangelis abailable on Polydor records and tapes

SONGS AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC
"Harps of the Ancient Temples"
Composed and performed by Gail Laughton
Courtesy of Laurel Records

"If I Didn't Care" (uncredited)
Written and Performed By: The Ink Spots

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Bud Alper
Boom Man: Eugene Byron Ashbrook
Cable Man: Beau Baker
Re-Recording Sound Mixer: Joel Fein (uncredited)
Chief Dubbing Mixers: Graham V. Hartstone, Pinewood Studios; Gerry Humphries, Twickenham Studios
Sound Editor: Peter Penell
Assistant Sound Editor: Joe Gallagher
Dialogue Editor: Michael Hopkins
Assistant Dialogue Editor: Peter Baldock
Trailer Sound Designer: Robert Randles (uncredited)

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costumes Designed by: Charles Knode and Michael Kaplan; Jean Giraud (uncredited)
Men's Costumers: James Lapidus, Bobby E Horn
Ladies Costumers: Winnie Brown, Linda A. Matthews
Make Up Artist: Marvin G. Westmore
Hair Stylist: Shirley L. Padgett

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Floor Effects Supervisor: Terry Frazee
Special Effects Technicians: Steve Galich, Logan Frazee, William G. Curtis

VISUAL EFFECTS
Special Photographic Effects Supervisors: Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich, David Dryer

Special Photographic Effects by EEG
Director of Photography: Dave Stewart
Cameramen: Don Baker, Charles Cowles, David Hardberger, Ronald Longo, Timothy McHugh
Matte Artist: Matthew Yuricich
Matte Photography: Robert Bailey, Tama Takahashi
Special Camera Technician: Alan Harding
Animation and Graphics: John Wash
Effects Illustrator: Tom Cranham
Miniature Technician: Bob Spurlock
Assistant Effects Editor: Michael Bakauskas
Chief Model Maker: Mark Stetson
Key Grip: Pat Van Auken
Gaffer: Gary Randall
Film Co-ordinator: Jack Hinkle
Cinetechnician: George Polkinghorne
Still Lab: Virgil Mirano
Electricronic and Mechanical Design: Evans Westmore
Electronic Engineering: Greg McMurray
Computer Engineering: Richard Hollander
Special Engineering Consultants: Bud Elam, David Grafton
Production Office Manager: Joyce Goldberg

Visual Displays by Dream Quest Inc.

Electron Microscope Photographs by: David Scharf copyright © 1977

Esper Sequences: Filmex & Lodge/Cheesman

TITLES AND OPTICALS
Titles by: Intralink Film Graphic Design
Optical Photography Supervisor: Robert Hall
Optical Line up: Philip Barberio, Richard Ripple
Optical Effects: Craig Chandler (uncredited)

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designed by: Lawrence G. Paull, Peter J. Hampton (uncredited)
Art Director: David Snyder
Assistant Art Director: Stephen Dane
Visual Futurist: Syd Mead
Set Decorators: Linda DeScenna and Tom Roysden, Leslie Frankenheimer; Peg Cummings (uncredited)
Property Master: Terry Lewis
Assistant Property: David Quick, Arthur Shippee Jr, John A. Scott III
Action Prop Supervisor: Mike Fink
Action Prop Consultant: Linda Fleisher
Production Illustrators: Sherman Labby, Mentor Huebner, Tom Southwell
Construction Co-ordinator: James. F. Orendorf
Painting Co-ordinator: James T. Woods
Standby Painter: Buzz Lombardo

OTHER CREW
Production Controller: Steve Warner
Publicist: Saul Kahan
Transportation Captain: Howard Davidson
Craft Service: Michael Knutsen

LOCATIONS
Locations: Bradbury Building, 304 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA; Ennis-Brown House, 2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA; Million Dollar Theatre, 307 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA; Old Union Station, Los Angeles, California, USA; Pan Am building, Los Angeles, California, USA; Second Street Tunnel, Los Angeles, California, USA
Filmed at The Burbank Studios, Burbank, California

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With thanks to: William S. Burroughs and Alan E. Nourse for the use of the title Blade Runner
This film is dedicated to the memort of Philip K. Dick

STUNTS
Stunt Co-ordinator: Gary Combs
Stunts: Ray Bickel, Janet Brady, Diane Carter, Ann Chatterton, Gilbert Combs, Anthony Cox, Rita Egleston, Gary Epper, Jeannie Epper, James M. Halty, Jeff Imada, Gary McLarty, Karen McLarty, Beth Nufer, Roy K. Ogata, Bobby Porter, Lee Pulford, Ruth Redfern, George Sawaya, Charles A. Tamburro, Jack Tyree, Mike Washlake, Michael Zurich (all uncredited)

CASTING
Casting by: Mike Fenton and Jane Feinberg

CAST

Harrison Ford (Deckard)
Rutger Hauer (Roy Batty)
Sean Young (Rachel)
Edward James Olmos (Gaff)
M. Emmett Walsh (Bryant)
Daryl Hannah (Pris)
William Sanderson (J.F. Sebastian)
Brion James (Leon)
Joe Turkel (Tyrell)

and
Joanna Cassidy (Zhora)

featuring
James Hong (Chew)
Morgan Paull (Holden)

Kevin Thompson (Bear)
John Edward Allen (Kaiser)
Hy Pyke (Taffy Lewis)
Kimiko Hiroshige (Cambodian woman)
Robert Okazaki (sushi master)
Carolyn DeMirjian (saleslady)

UNCREDITED CAST

Leo Gorcey Jr (Louie the bartender)
Charles Knapp, Thomas Hutchinson (bartenders)
Kelley Hine (show girl)
Sharon Hesky, Rose Mascari (barflies)
Susan Rhee, Hiroko Kimuri (geishas)
Kai Wong, Kit Wong (Chinese men)
Jiro Okazaki, Steve Pope, Robert Reiter (policemen)

PLOT SUMMARY

Los Angeles, 2020: a group of renegade replicants have illegally arrived on Earth from the off-world colonies. Blade Runner Rick Deckard is sent to find and "retire" them, but this time he finds himself up against the technologically highly advanced Nexus 6 machines, replicants that are developing their own emotions.

CAPSULE REVIEW

Quite simply stunning. The most influential science fiction movie since 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Blade Runner was a failure when it first opened but has rightly come to be regarded as one of cinema's milestone achievements. The multi-layered narrative delivers surprises and new interpretaions on almost every viewing and the look of the film has been copied by films, rock videos and adverts ever since. A challenging, beautiful and intriguing work of genius.

Argentina
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Video Distributor: Argentina Video Home

Germany
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (20008LD)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video

Japan
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (08JL-70008); Warner Home Video (NJL-20008); Warner Home Video (NJL-12682 - Director's Cut)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (DL-12682)

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video (Screen Classics SO70008); Warner Home Video (SO12682, widescreen Director's Cut)
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video
DVD Distributor: Metrodome Distribution (MTD2000 - Director's Cut, Deluxe Box Set); Warner Home Video (D012905 - Director's Cut)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers / Embassy Pictures Corporation
Television Distributor: Columbia TriStar
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (12682 - Director's Cut); Criterion (CC1120L); Criterion (CC1169L); Nelson (13806)
DVD Distributors: Warner Home Video (12682 - Director's Cut); Creative Design (20107 - Director's Cut Collector's Edition)

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: M

Chile
Rating: 18

Finland
Rating: K-16

France
Rating: -12

Germany
Rating: 16

Netherlands
Rating: 16 (director's cut)

Norway
Rating: 15

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R
MPAA: 26573

1982
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Cinematography (Jordan Cronenweth) - winner

1983
Academy Awards, USA
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Linda DeScenna, Lawrence G. Paull, David L. Snyder) - nominated
Best Effects, Visual Effects (David Dryer, Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich) - nominated

British Academy Awards
Best Cinematography (Jordan Cronenweth) - winner
Best Costume Design (Michael Kaplan, Charles Knode) - winner
Best Production Design / Art Direction (Lawrence G. Paull) - winner
Best Film Editing (Terry Rawlings) - nominated
Best Make Up Artist (Marvin G. Westmore) - nominated
Best Score (Vangelis) - nominated
Best Sound (Bud Alper, Graham V. Hartstone, Gerry Humphreys, Peter Pennell) - nominated
Best Special Visual Effects (David Dryer, Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich) - nominated

Fantasporto
International Fantasy Film Award: Best Film (Ridley Scott) - nominated

Golden Globes, USA
Best Original Score - Motion Picture (Vangelis) - nominated

Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation - winner

1993
National Film Preservation Board, USA
Added to the National Film Registry

Fantasporto
International Fantasy Film Award: Best Film (Ridley Scott - director's cut) - nominated

1982
May
27: UK - rated AA by the BBFC (for theatrical release)

June
25: USA - theatrical release

August
21: Spain - theatrical release

September
10: Sweden - theatrical release
15: France - theatrical release

October
1: Finland - theatrical release
14: West Germany - theatrical release

1983
January
28: Norway - theatrical release

1986
April
10: UK - rated 15 by the BBFC (for video release)

1992
September
29: UK - rated 15 by the BBFC (for video release - Director's Cut)

November
20: Finland - theatrical release of Director's Cut

December
4: Sweden - theatrical release of Director's Cut

1993
February
Day Unknown: Portugal - Director's Cut shown at Fantasporto Film Festival)
18: Argentina - theatrical release of Director's Cut
25: UK - rated 15 by the BBFC (for video release)

May
19: USA - laserdisc release (Warner Home Video (12682 - Director's Cut))

1995
March
24: Germany - laserdisc distributor (Warner Home Video (20008LD))

1996
October
28: UK - video release (Warner Home Video (Screen Classics SO70008))

December
Day Unknown: Japan - DVD release (Warner Home Video (DL-12682))

1997
March
25: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (12682 - Director's Cut))

September
8: UK - video release (Warner Home Video (SO12682, widescreen Director's Cut))

1999
September
29: Germany - DVD release (Warner Home Video)

November
1: UK - DVD release (Warner Home Video (D012905 - Director's Cut))

2000
June
6: USA - DVD release (Creative Design (20107 - Director's Cut Collector's Edition))

September
25: UK - DVD release (Metrodome Distribution (MTD2000 - Director's Cut, Deluxe Box Set))

2002
June
2: UK - Director's Cut television broadcast (on Channel 5)

2008
May
26: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
31: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

June
17: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
28: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

July
11: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
16: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
27: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

August
8: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
18: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
28: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

September
3: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
16: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
24: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
28: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

October
4: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
15: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
26: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
31: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

November
8: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
9: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
16: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
22: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
28: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

December
3: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
9: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
18: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
19: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)
27: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

2009
January
4: UK - The Final Cut television Broadcast (on Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror)

A chilling, bold, mesmerizing, futuristic detective thriller.

Man has made his match... Now it's his problem.

Blade Runner - Metropolis 2020 - Finnish title
Blade Runner - O Caçador de Andróides - Brazilian title
Blade runner - Omades exontoseos - Greek title
Blade Runner, Der - West German title
Cazador implacable, El - Venezuelan title
Dangerous Days - working title
Iztrebljevalec - Slovenian director's cut title
Lowca androidów - Polish title
Perigo Iminente - Portuguese title
Szárnyas fejvadász - Hungarian title
Vânatorul de recompense - Romanian title

SEE ALSO
Akira (1988)
Baburugamu kuraishisu (1985)
Blade Runner (1997)
The Comic Strip Presents: Slags (1984)
Dark City (1998)
The Making of Blade Runner (1997)
Metropolis (1927)
Mystery Men (1999)
Natural City (2003)
Nirvana (1997)
Trancers (1985)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
My Science Fiction Life (2006)
On the Edge of Blade Runner (2000)
A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1994)
Visions of Light (1992)

PERIODICALS

Empire December 1992 (UK)
review

Empire no.222 (December 2007) p.60 (UK)
illustrated review (Blade Runner: The Final Cut by Adam Smith)

Entertainment Weekly no.491/492 (25 June 1999) p.148 (USA)
article (Distance 'Runner' by Mike Flaherty)

The Face 40 (Jan 92) p.39 (UK)
review

FilmMagasinet June / July 1994 pp.76-78
review (by Kjetil Korslund)

Official Blade Runner Souvenir Magazine by Vic Bulluck (New York: Ira Friedman Inc (1982)) (USA)
production notes

Photoplay January 1984 p.53
illustrated review

Svenska Dagbladet 4 December 1992
review (Blade Runner tillbaka med nytt slut by Jeanette Gentele)

BOOKS

The BFI Companion to Crime p.53
credits, review

Blade Runner Sketchbook (Blue Dolphin Press (1982))
production notes

Blade Runner: The Inside Story by Don Shay (London: Titan Books (2000))
production notes

Film Architecture: From Metropolis to Blade Runner
production notes

Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M. Sammon (NYC: HarperPrism (July 1996))
production notes

The Harrison Ford Story by Alan McKenzie (Zomba Books)
credits, review

The Illustrated Blade Runner by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples (Blue Dolphin Press (1982))
production notes

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.46
credits, review

Horror and Science Fiction Films III pp.25-26
credits, review

Retrofitting Blade Runner edited by Judith D. Kerman
reviews

York Film Notes: Blade Runner by Nick Lacey (York Press (30 September 2000))
reviews, articles

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

the future, androids, police, los angeles, genetics, scientists, memories, memory implants, book into film, chess, cyberpunk, detectives, eyes, doves, birds, origami, dreams, replicants, unicorns, synthetic humans, dancers, nightclubs, rain, snakes, flying cars, cities

Last Updated: 13 October, 2009